GAINESVILLE, Fla. - No matter how poorly Florida State quarterback Chris Rix has played against other teams, he has been at his best against rival Florida.

The senior has completed 61 percent of his passes for 679 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in three years against the Gators, winning the past two games.

Because of that, Florida coach Ron Zook expects Rix to play Saturday in Tallahassee — even it means coming off the bench for a series or two.

“I don’t think there’s any question we’ll see him,” Zook said Tuesday. “He’s a good quarterback. Obviously, the thing he’s done is scramble out and heave it down there. We’ve got to keep him contained and be able to play the long ball.”

Rix started the first three games this season before spraining his right ankle against Clemson. Wyatt Sexton took over for the next five before giving way to Rix in a loss to Maryland on Oct. 30.

Florida at FSU Predictions 101: Florida to surprise Expert: Always a great game End of streak? Gators expect to see Rix take snaps Gators may decide 'Noles' BCS fate TSN: Candidates to replace Zook Vote: Pick Winner

Rix regained his starting job the following week against Duke but was back on the sideline after struggling in the first half.

Coach Bobby Bowden resisted any temptation to replace Sexton with Rix again last week after he misfired early and often against North Carolina State. Sexton finished 5-of-18 for 73 yards with an interception — contributing to Florida State’s worst offensive performance in Bowden’s 29 years.

The urge to keep Rix on the bench might be too tough to deny this week, considering Rix’s propensity to torch Florida.

He did it in 2002. Rix had been benched midway through the season in favor of Adrian McPherson. But McPherson was kicked off the team days before the Florida game after he was arrested on a charge of felony grand theft.

Rix returned to the starting lineup for the first time in six weeks and threw two touchdown passes and ran for 83 yards in a 31-14 victory.

He was even better last season.

He finished 14-of-19 for 256 yards with three touchdown passes. He also ran for a score in the 38-34 win, but his biggest passes were his last two.

Rix connected with Dominic Robinson for a 24-yard gain on fourth-and-14. Then he rolled right and lofted a pass to the end zone that P.K. Sam caught falling down for a 52-yard score with 55 seconds to play.

“It’s one of those things that you try to erase out of your memory,” Florida center Mike Degory said. “Chris Rix plays really big against us, and we know that. Hopefully we can score one more point than they do this year.”

FSU coach Bobby Bowden called the touchdown pass at the end of last year’s game Rix’s most memorable moment.

“Chris has had a better career here than most quarterbacks across the country,” Bowden said. “People don’t realize that. His propensity for turning the ball over has hurt him.”

Especially against Miami, which has given Rix five of his 11 career losses. He has completed 43 percent of his passes for 744 yards with five touchdowns, nine interceptions and five fumbles against the Hurricanes.

The Gators don’t know why he’s been so much more productive against them.

“As we all know, Chris Rix in the last two years has had some pretty big games against Florida,” Zook said. “I don’t think there’s any question that Rix presents a problem. He’s scrambled out more than Wyatt has. But both throw the deep ball, and it’s going to be important that we keep them contained, keep them in the pocket and play the deep ball.”